What was God’s purpose in creating the world, and why did He send his Son to lay down his life for those who would believe in him? He did this all out of love, as described by Isaac Watts in the famous hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”, concluding with the words: “love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul my life my all”.
The Biblical revelation is that the Father sent his unique Son, who was with Him in a family love relationship before anything was made, to enter the world as the Son of Man, to live a sinless life, and to suffer and die to pay the full judgment for the sins of all who would believe in him. Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ, describes this supreme sacrifice in John 3:16 (NKJV): “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
YHWH has betrothed himself to the believing remnant of Israel, which includes Gentiles grafted into Israel through faith and loving obedience to Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The redeemed who enter into this love relationship with YHWH through the Messiah are described as his wife. The Father is preparing through the Holy Spirit this bride who will be His gift of love to his Son, and the bride is making herself ready! (Revelation 19:7-8)
In Hosea 2:19-20, YHWH declares His betrothal and promise to the believing remnant of Israel:
Hosea 2 (NKJV)
19 “I will betroth you to Me forever;
Yes, I will betroth you to Me
In righteousness and justice,
In lovingkindness and mercy;
20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness,
And you shall know the LORD [Yehovah’].
God’s faithfulness to His people Israel is described in Isaiah 54, including the memorable words, “For your Maker is your husband”:
Isaiah 54 (NKJV)
4 “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed;
Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame;
For you will forget the shame of your youth,
And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.
5 For your Maker is your husband,
The LORD of hosts is His name;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel;
He is called the God of the whole earth.
6 For the LORD has called you
Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit,
Like a youthful wife when you were refused,”
Says your God.
7 “For a mere moment I have forsaken you,
But with great mercies I will gather you.
8 With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,”
Says the LORD, your Redeemer.
In Isaiah 56:6-7, YHWH describes how people from all nations are invited to come and be included by faith and loving obedience into His covenant with Israel:
Isaiah 56 (NKJV)
6 “Also the sons of the foreigner
Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him,
And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants—
Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And holds fast My covenant—
7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
Will be accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
Part of Israel’s covenant with YHWH as noted in verse 6 above is to keep the Sabbath (the seventh day) holy, a day of rest, specially devoted to Him. Yeshua, Jesus, did not abolish this or any other commandment of the law. In Matthew 5:19 (NKJV), he cautions against breaking any of the commands: “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Faith in YHWH and in Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ, is expressed and nourished through loving obedience to His commands, as Yeshua emphasizes in the following verses:
John 14:15 (NIV) “If you love me, keep my commands.”
John 15:10 (NIV) “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”
John 17:6 (NKJV) “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
YHWH’s bride is the redeemed house of Israel made up of redeemed Judah, Israel and those of the nations who are grafted into Israel by faith and loving obedience. This believing remnant of Israel is comprised of those who believe in Yeshua the Messiah and truly follow him. Revelation 14:12 (CJB) describes this company, “This is when perseverance is needed on the part of God’s people, those who observe his commands and exercise Yeshua’s faithfulness.”
The betrothal of YHWH to His people provides insight into His motive in creating the universe, and in sending his Son to suffer and die on our behalf. As the Son of Man, Yeshua, Jesus, willingly laid down his life as he promised he would do in John 10:17-18 (NIV): “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
To be part of the bride means that one is in relationship with the Father through the Messiah, with living faith expressed through loving obedience to his word. Step one is to receive Yeshua as your Savior, the one who gave it all for you. He loved each of us so much that he laid down his life that all who believe in him can have eternal life.
Now he is risen and alive forevermore! The remnant of Yahweh’s born again nation is also arising and coming into her own. The joy of the Father will soon be fulfilled as He presents this faultless bride to His Son! (Jude 1:24) She will in essence be married to the Father and to the Son, sharing in their unity, love and glory that brought the universe into being. (John 17:20-26)
David Krause, dhkrause@neteze.com,7/25/2011
Compelling Love 
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